AT HARDING
Tom Ritchie is in his 11th year as the Director of Recreation Programs and his 18th year as an assistant professor in Harding's Kinesiology Department.
In addition to his administrative and teaching roles, Ritchie serves as a color commentator on the Harding Sports Network, covering the Lady Bison volleyball team as well as the men’s and women’s soccer teams.
PRIOR TO HARDING
Before coming to Harding, Ritchie spent 16 years as a teacher and coach in the Fauquier County Public Schools system in Warrenton, Virginia. During that time, he coached four different sports: soccer (16 years), volleyball (14 years), field hockey (three years), and basketball (two years).
Ritchie also served as the camp director at Camp Wamava in Linden, Virginia, a position he held from 1993 until his retirement from the role in 2010.
His coaching career spans 52 total seasons, including 24 years of soccer coaching experience and 17 years of volleyball coaching experience.
EDUCATION
Ritchie earned his Bachelor of Arts from Harding in 1980. He began his teaching and coaching career in 1981 at Brown's Lane Christian School in Louisville, Kentucky. He returned to Harding from 1983-85 to serve as a graduate assistant for the newly launched Lady Bison volleyball program, earning his Master of Education in Health, Recreation, and Physical Education in 1985.
FAMILY
Ritchie is married to the former Debbie Houff of Casanova, Virginia. The couple has four children—Thomas, Jamie, Melissa, and Christy. Three of their children are Harding graduates: Thomas (2004), Melissa (2010), and Christy (2013).
